Interview: Peter Vullo and THURSDAY NIGHT TERRORS

Peter Vullo is the assistant manager at the Dipson Amherst Theatre.

Peter loves movies and he especially enjoys the horror/cult classics.

It's paid off for him with an impressive film festival he will be hosting.

MCL: Why did you want to do this type of film festival?

PV: Well, there are a lot of wonderful film series in Buffalo, but not many that focus on the horror/cult classic genre specifically. I wanted to put together something that both genre fans and newcomers alike would love. My hope is that people are able to have fun with Thursday Night Terrors, that it becomes something to look forward to every month. Also, it'll be a fantastic opportunity to see these movies on the big screen. I think many people, myself included, first discover the classics from the genre on the small screen---on dvd, streaming, or whatnot. To be able to watch something like Dead Alive in a movie theater made to present films in the best possible quality is a big deal. I also think horror movies are more fun to watch with other people. Having an audience amplifies reactions, whether it's a laugh or a scream, it becomes contagious. It becomes an experience we can share.

MCL: How long have you been interested in this genre?

PV: I've loved horror since I was a little kid. I have vivid memories of going to this little mom and pop video store in Riverside with my dad. It was on Ontario Street, not far from Skillen, if I remember correctly. I can remember all the huge shelves stacked with VHS tapes of stuff you'd expect to see, A Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th. Horror films always have the best cover art, so I was drawn to them. They were both scary and cool to me, so I wanted to watch them all and I sure tried to. My dad would let me pick out a tape or two and we'd go home with a pizza or something. Getting to have that quality time with my mom, dad, and sister was something I always looked forward to, along with the horror movies and junk food, of course. The '90s in general were a great time for horror-Tales From the Crypt was in syndication, Are You Afraid of the Dark? was on Nickelodeon, Up All Night was on USA. It was wonderful. I owe it to my parents for letting me watch all that stuff. It became a passion that never faded and I'm grateful.

MCL: What was the first horror movie that hooked you? What was it about it that did it for you?

PV: It's hard to pick out one particular film. But, I will say that George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968) had a profound effect on me. I remember the ending of that film truly haunted me when I was younger. I couldn't remember the title of the film until I rewatched it years later. There was something about the thought of being trapped in a basement with no way out and zombies everywhere trying to break through the door that really terrified me at the time. It was such a hopeless, desperate situation. Then, it turns out the protagonist of the film makes it through the night and survives just to be shot and killed by a bunch of locals on a zombie hunt. They throw his lifeless body on a huge pile of zombies and set it on fire. The End. It's probably one of the bleakest endings I've ever seen. That burning pile of bodies left an impression on me, to the say the least. The subsequent sequels to Night---Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead (1985)---are also brilliant and two of my favorite films.

MCL: How about you tell us what each movie is? What made you pick each?

PV: Dead Alive (screening 8/25) - Before Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Peter Jackson directed crazy little genre films like Dead Alive (1992). I think the film is the perfect introduction to Thursday Night Terrors-it's an absolutely ridiculous, over-the-top, gory masterpiece. It has so much energy and humor too. One of the most memorable scenes in the film involves a lawnmower and buckets upon buckets of blood. I'll just leave it at that. There's also a priest who kicks ass for the Lord. Dead Alive is certainly not for the faint of heart and that's why I love it.

Demons (screening 9/29) - I personally feel Demons(1985) should be ranked among the best horror films to come out of the '80s. Directed by Lamberto Bava, the film takes place in a movie theater overrun by demons with patrons trapped inside fighting to survive. It's basically Romero's Dawn of the Dead set in a theater instead of a mall, and with demons in place of the undead. While Demons may not contain the intelligence and social commentary of Romero's work, it is a blast to watch. Pure fun. The soundtrack features '80s rock mainstays like Billy Idol and Mötley Crüe. The practical effects are a spectacular joy to behold. Look out for the scene of demons running toward the screen with glowing eyes and fog. It's such a well-done and effective shot. The film was produced by Italian horror royalty Dario Argento, of Suspiria fame Also, prepare to witness a demon being borne from the back of another character. It's gnarly. So much gore, all of it great.

Fright Night (screening 10/27) - Tom Holland's Fright Night (1985) is a classic. Simple as that. I tried to pick a title especially fitting for the Halloween season and Fright Night is perfect for it. It has just the right October atmosphere. It's about a kid who loves horror movies discovering that his new neighbor is a vampire, and enlisting the help of his friends and a horror series host to battle this bloodsucking neighbor. It's '80s horror greatness, full of quotable lines ("You're so cool, Brewster!") and awesome special effects make-up. I'd say it's one of the most well-known and well-loved films of the series, and for good reason. It deserves all the affection it receives. Look out for Evil Ed and that wonderfully cheesy theme song. Spooky stuff.

Phantasm II (screening 11/17) - Phantasm II (1988) is the Evil Dead II of the Phantasm series. It retains much of what makes the original film great, but amplifies it with a bigger budget, more gore, and more action. Don Coscarelli's Phantasm series is home to one of the most beloved antagonists in horror: the Tall Man, played by Angus Scrimm who unfortunately passed away earlier this year. Scrimm's legacy is cemented by his performance as a scowling undertaker who harvests the dead to become slaves in another dimension, or something like that. If that plot summary doesn't entice you, I don't know what will. It's not completely necessary to watch the original Phantasm film to understand what's happening in the sequel, as the events of the original film are retold in quick flashbacks and narration. With that being said, the original Phantasm is masterpiece on its own and should be watched immediately. Phantasm II features evil cloaked dwarves, flying silver spheres of death, a balding former ice cream man with a four-barreled shotgun; a flamethrower, a chainsaw, yellow goo, explosions, car chases-I mean, it has everything.

The Thing (screening 12/15) - John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) is one of the best horror films ever made, ask anyone-they'll tell you. It's the perfect film for December, as it's set in a frozen, snowy Antarctica. It also stars a badass Kurt Russell with a beard! I wanted to end the first season of Thursday Night Terrors on a high note and it doesn't get much better than The Thing. Its atmosphere is claustrophobic and full of dread, accentuated by Ennio Morricone and Carpenter's score. It features some of the best special effects ever seen in the horror genre and beyond. From the writhing dog monster to the Norris head spider, The Thing offers imagery that cannot be forgotten. John Carpenter is one of the greatest directors in the genre. He's directed classic after classic, including Halloween, Christine, The Fog, Escape From New York, and They Live. No horror film series would be complete without at least one or two Carpenter titles featured in it. The Thing is an especially important work in an overwhelming brilliant career. It's also worth mentioning the awesome tagline for the film: "Man is the warmest place to hide." Perfect.

MCL: The artist who did the poster...fantastic work. Where did you find him?

PV: Josh Flanigan designed and illustrated all the posters and artwork for Thursday Night Terrors. He's a graphic designer at Buffalo Spree. My friend, a local writer and critic named Christopher Schobert, recommended Josh to me after seeing my social media post asking for help finding a designer for the series. Josh was the first person recommended to me and it turned out to be a match made in horror heaven. I cannot imagine this series without Josh's artwork. It's stunning. It catches the eye immediately. I would've never imagined being able to have something so well done for this project. Having a film series with great titles is one thing, but having gorgeous artwork to spread the word about the series is another thing completely. The poster has to sell the series, and I think Josh's work does that in abundance. I shared with him the vibe I wanted for the poster, something along the lines of Tales From the Crypt and Creepshow, and he brought it to life. It was kismet for sure. I think it was important to find someone who had a love for the genre to create the artwork for Thursday Night Terrors, and Josh's love for horror is so clearly conveyed in his work. I couldn't have done it without him, and I'm incredibly grateful that he and I crossed paths thanks to Chris.

MCL: Finally...what do you want the audience to get out this festival? Will there be more?

PV: If people show up to these screenings, I'm sure there will be plenty more. I'm hoping for a sold out show or two. Of course, the continuation of the series isn't entirely up to me, but if the seats are being filled in the theater, I imagine it will be very difficult to deny a second season of Thursday Night Terrors. I want people to enjoy themselves. I don't want this to be some sort of chore to sit through. All of the films in this series are fun. They're ridiculous and more than occasionally cheesy, but that's part of what makes them all so wonderful. I want people to be able to experience some of their favorite horror films in an actual movie theater, on the big screen, with popcorn and friends nearby. I truly think the horror crowd is a wonderful community. It's a dedicated and passionate audience. It's time Buffalo had a film series that specifically spoke to that fan base, a place where we could meet up and talk about our favorite titles, discover new ones, and watch them together. People like Gregory Lamberson, director of Slime City and Johnny Gruesome, are at the forefront of Buffalo's horror community. With Thursday Night Terrors, I hope I can make a positive and gory contribution to the community I hold very dearly in my bloody, bloody heart.

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/ThursdayNightTerrors/?pnref=story.unseen-section

http://www.dipsontheatres.com/

Josh Flanigan designed and illustrated all the posters and artwork for Thursday Night Terrors.

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